Postgame thoughts

Below are some thoughts after Nashville’s 3-2 overtime win over Winnipeg.

The Craig Smith revival tour continues. Smith had a big goal — the overtime winner — but it seemed like he could have had a few more with four shots on goal. Smith fought through some adversity in this game. A big hit by Dustin Byfuglien on Smith on an offensive chance could have made him a little tentative the rest of the game. Instead he stayed with it, continued to drive to the net, and was eventually rewarded.

David Legwand always seems to find a way to be near the top of Nashville’s scoring chart. With his two assists Thursday, Legwand is tied with Smith for the team lead in points with seven. It was Legwand who caused the turnover by Byfuglien on the game-winner, and then found Smith for his one-timer blast past Ondrej Pavelec.

Carter Hutton continues to be consistently strong for Nashville. Three games played, two wins, 93 saves on 97 shots and a 1.37 goals-against average — those are Huttons numbers so far during the 2013-14 season. With starter Pekka Rinne out at least one month after a “scope” on his hip due to an infection, it’s impossible to think Hutton will keep up this hot play night-in, night-out. But at least in the early going, he has merited praise and looked like he belongs in the NHL.